Think I finally settled on a series to complete!

I think I have finally found a set series I would like to put together and something for the most part within my budget.
I was thinking of a Peace Dollar set in around the MS63/64 range for most of the dates.

Now for the key dates, it might be in the upper AU range AU55/58 range.


I’ve picked up some good information here that going with say AU 55/58 can be actually nicer than say MS60 since the upper AU range is the nicest circulated piece condition versus the lowest MS uncirculated condition.

The biggest thing here will be the following, I would like to have these in an album versus just having a box full of slabbed coins. Are there any good online dealers that offer both slabbed and raw Peace dollars that represent accurate grades for the raw ones I can use to begin with? I don’t mind getting TPG graded examples either.


Would it be more prudent to just buy the slabbed coins till the set is done then decide how to finally keep the set as a whole? If anyone has some good sources for decently priced Peace Dollars feel free to let me know. I will use the bay and another dealer I have used before to buy TPG graded items if the price and look is good.

Thanks..

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

It would be a nice set to collect. I would recommend keeping them slab and deciding afterwards. I know two dealers I would not rule out are northeast numismatic and Harlan J Berk. On both I have found decently priced coins - can't speak for peace dollars since I don't collect them. I would also use heritage if I was you - checking realized prices against dealers and ebay. Just my humble opinion.

 

I agree with Mark. Buy them as you want, but keep them in their respective holders until you complete the set. Then, once you have it done, decide on display.

 

If you are set of putting them into a book and NOT keeping them in the TPG holder, then I would not recommend you buy them at the premium a TPG holdered coin will demand over it's equivalent in raw. Cracking them out and then putting them into a less secure environment almost always net you a loss in quality of the coin over time and associated $'s.

I like the idea of working the 'bay to aquire raw samples to fill you book at a decent price. Focus on true auctioned coins and try to stay away for BIN (buy it now) offerings as you'll likely get a better price if you shop only true auctions and be patient in your aquisitions.

Peace dollars are frequently offered raw in rough form,, either brutally cleaned or with other problems. These coins are often sold at discount, and some are actually not that bad looking. So if you plan to house these in a book over time, they may actually "appreciate" in value as a natural tone overlays old cleanings and makes these coins market acceptable again......

In the end, it depends on the size of your wallet and what makes you happy as you enjoy this wonderful hobby.

Enjoy !

 

I think it would be a nice set to complete as well. I love the Morgans with all their variations and certainly beautiful toned coins and will still pick those up as something intriguing comes along.

Northeast was the dealer I was referring to initially as I have bought from them in the past and they have a nice selection of Peace Dollars in several grades of MS63/64 at good prices and they have layaway for something more expensive if a key date is a good buy. Though they do not sell anything in raw form from my observation and I will have to look at Harlan J. Berk.

I've been using heritage and ebay and teletrade looking at price differences and realized auction prices to gauge what the condition/price averages.

 

I like the idea of putting them in a book as the final "resting place" as completed or when completed. Though at the moment I am not completely sure. I guess it will depend more on how I am acquiring the majority of the set. I do like your thoughts about acquiring some raw samples from the bay if I am able to get some of the nicer looking examples and take the time to find ones with good photos and are not in really bad shape beyond any hope of time healing some issues.

 

I've a few in holders currently and will leave them that way until I see how the bulk of the coins come as I get those..

 

Collecting raw coins is fun. The problem is there's a lot of junk out there and unless you know what you're doing and see these coins in hand you will likely end up with problem ones if you buy raw.

So with all due respect, I suggest you buy them graded by trustworthy TPG's and later decide how to hold them.

There's nothing wrong with cracking out TPG coins...you didn't pay for the grading. And you can generally rely on getting trouble-free coins. The downside comes when you sell them. Keeping the cert# tags is some help but never as good as having them in holders.

I love Peace dollars but they're a bear. Mushy strikes, unattractive toning, splotchy spotting due to bad dipping and rinsing. If you like blast white and don't mind weak definition, go for it. They're beautiful coins, just not always great for presentation.
Lance.

 

I can appreciate the issues with buying any of these raw and I am still learning what constitutes cleaning and other issues. I will be getting some research material as well prior to doing any serious purchases. Graded ones I will look at on a case by case basis as well.

I did a quick look at the Harlan J Berk site and see at least he has both graded and some raw dollars. Northeast seems to deal with graded only, at least from their site. They have negotiable prices on many and layaway which is nice.

I know the strikes on many of these are soft and luster is sometimes lacking unlike the Morgans for example but, some I've seen are absolutely beautiful. I may just stick to graded initially, especially in the beginning until I get a good grasp on what I am seeing based on grade.

 

I'd say for what they are going to cost in the grades you want buy graded coins only and keep them in the slabs. Your flushing money down the drain to crack them out and put them into a album IMO.
Most of my set are AU58's so I have found on-line grading of them from images to be almost impossible let the professional graders help. Also on the keys don't skimp with trying for a raw coin to save money there have been reports of fakes of them being seen.

 

I really enjoy building the albums too. The Peace Dollars and the Walking Liberty Halves are my favorite. The slabs are the elite way to preserve the coins. My keys are slabbed, but I prefer to work with the raw coins and use cotton gloves. The Intercept Shield albums are the ones I prefer. I am almost through building with my Peace album. I've been looking for the right 1934-S ever since I started. It's been the hardest to select, and will be the most expensive.

Lance has a beautiful 1934-S. Maybe he'll post it. I found my raw 1928 key at a good price and had it slabbed.
Good luck to you!
Chuck

 

I'd love seeing Lance's 34s and I know that will be the big one depending on the grade you are looking for. I got one, though I doubt it will grade as some say it looks cleaned. I am going to send it in and at least see.

Harlan J Berk has a 34s in MS63 for all of 3000.00.. If mine bags a details holder I may try selling it to eventually get a graded one in AU.

That is a nice looking 28, especially getting it raw and having it graded. This will be a slow process deciding which ones I like best based on grades and prices, slabbed and or raw.

 

Very good points in your post. Believe me, in most cases I will be letting the pros help as much as possible..

 

This 1928 is a great example of why I couldn't grade a peace dollar. The raw images certainly look like an MS Peace to me. That would be on ebay as MS+++ super high grade gem. And I would fall for it.

 

Agreed, I would be thinking the same, the luster doesn't show as well in the photo though so I am not sure how I would ponder a grade..

 

I'd agree. I think there's different types of collectors, some of these collectors want professionally graded coins as a possible investment then there are people like me, who actually usually avoid professionally graded and slabbed coins, grade myself to come to a purchase price and just collect coins to add to a collection to keep forever, pass down through the family, etc. But if I buy graded coins, I leave them in the slab.

 

Maybe this is a good place to ask about mine. I only kept one for my type set, and I chose this one because it has incredible luster. The thing looks wet in hand. As you can see though, it's got some scuffs and what not. So my question is:
Are Peace dollars like Morgan dollars when it comes to 'bag marks'. Were Peace dollars put into bags, and therefore even with scuffs it could be considered uncirculated?
is this possibly uncirculated? I believe it came from a capital plastics holder, coupled with a Morgan dollar that was given away at a bank. The holder was labeled as uncirculated silver dollars. But I don't always trust them obviously. This was in with the collection I received from my dad.

Thoughts?

 

To my knowledge, Uncirculated bags were used to store the coins.

 

I like it and it does have lots of luster... not sure about a grade I was going to say 64 though I can't tell on the neck hit there.. still very nice...
I do believe they stored Peace Dollars at the treasury in bags as well...then released some.. But not 100% sure.

 

Yes, according to what I've read, the Treasury Department stored Peace dollars in bags in vaults, which I'm sure have been released since then.